Stair-tread carrier



Jan. '11 19 27 H. H. BUNKER STAIR TREAD CARRIER Filed Jan. 2. 1924 TOR ATTORNEYS Patented Jan. 11, 3927.

HERBERT H. BUNKER, OF JERSEY CITY, NEW JERSEY.

STAIR-TREAD CARRIER. i

Application filcd January 2, 1924. Serial No. 633,974.

This invention relates to stair tread carriers.

An important object of the invention is to provide in a device of the character mentioned a means whereby the device as a whole may be readily attached to a suitable support having any desired spacing of securing means such as bolts, rivets or the like without necessitating any modification whatsoever of the carrier itself or the support to,

which the same is adapted to be attached.

Another object of my invention is to provide in a device of the character mentioned a means whereby an adequate support ma be provided throughout or substantially throughout the Width of the stair tread or unit at or in the vicinity of its connection with the support to which the same is attached.

A further object of my invention is to provide a device of the character mentioned which is simple in construction, strong durable, inexpensive to manufacture, and reliable in use.

Other objects and certain advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings in which- Figure 1 is a perspective view of my improved carrier having associated therewith a tread unit in the form of a grating.

Figure 2 is a side view partly-in cross section of my improved carrier attached to a suitable support.

Figure 8 is a sectional view taken on line 33 of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a more or less diagrammatic view illustrating the method of nesting or packing a plurality of tread units to which the carriers embodying my invention are attached.

In the drawings wherein for the purpose of illustration is shown what I at present consider the preferred form of my invention the numeral 10 indicates as a whole a tread unit in the form of a grating employing a .plurality of longitudinally disposed parallel bars 11 between which are arranged the usual angle strips or braces 12, the braces being secured to the longitudinal bars 11 at the several points of contact therewith by means of rivets or the like 13.

In orderto attach the tread unit 10 to its support, which in the present instance is in nested side at a stairway;

the improved carrier indicated as a whole by the numeral 15 is employed. This carrier is formed of one piece of material and comprises a main or body portion 16 which is bent to provide a ledge 17 upon which the tread unit 10 is supported at its end throughout or substantially throughout the entire width thereof. This ledge as will be noted is relatively narrow sutficient surface being provided however to adequately support the end of the unit. In constructing the carrier 15 means is provided for insuring proper positioning of the tread unit thereupon such means being in the form of cars 18 formed integral with the ledge 17 and body portion 16. These ears are bent at right angles With respect to the ledge 17 and lie in planes parsed therethrough perpendicularly to the body portion 16. The unit 10 when positioned intermediate the earslS by reason of necessity assumes a proper position with respect to the carrier 15 and is restrained against lateral movement upon the carrier 15 when introduced in the space afforded for the reception thereof. If desired. however,

the tread unit 10 may be secured to the carrier 15 through the instrumentality of bolts or rivets 19 passed through the ends of the outer longitudinal 'or parallel bars 11 and the angularly disposed ears 18, thus lending rigidity to the structure in its entirety.

It will be appreciated that the structure constructed in accordance witln the disclosure thus far described is not only strong and rigid by reason 01" the t'act that the tread unit is supported throughout or substantially throughout the width of the same by the relatively narrow ledge 17, but is of such a nature as will lessen or limit to an appreciable degree the undersirable collection of dirt at the jointure between the unit 10 and its support 14 by reason of the fact that the ledge 17 is relatively narrow.

In many of the present day supports such as the side members 14 of stairway attaching elements such as bolts or rivetsQt) are not unifm'nily spaced and consequently redrilling of the carrier 15 is necessitated in order that the carriers may be properly positioned and secured to the supports. The necessity of modifying the carriers-2 to ac commodate attaching elements having various spacings is eliminated by the device embodying my invention for the reason that the same is so constructed as to accomelements are spaces at various or nonuniform intervals. In rendering the carriers adapted for use with attaching means or elements spaced at various intervals I provide the carrier with an elongated slot or opening 21 at one end thereof, which is adapted for the reception of one of the attaching elements 20 whereas the other end of the carrier is provided with an opening 22 adapted for reception of the other attaching element 20. It will be appreciated from this construction that the carrier 15 may be readily attached to its support 1% regardles of any variation in the spacing intervals of the securing means or bolts 20. If desired the opening 22 instead of being made to tit or substantially fit the fastening means 20 may be elongated and thus made to correspond in shape with the elongated opening or slot 21 as will be readily appreciated thereby rendering the carrier adapted for use with securing means having even a greater variation in the spacing intervals thereof.

By reference to Figure i it will be up precia'ted how for the purpose of shipment the carrier, at one end of the stair tread or grating, may be taken oil or inverted so as to enable a number of tread units with carriers attached to be nested and packed into a minimum amount of space.

Having thus described my invention, I

claim:

- l. A carrier for a stair tread unit comprising means to support said unit and a bodyportion having a plurality of apertures adapted to receive attaching means for [G- curing the carrier to a support, one of said apertures being elongated to receive one of said attaching means in any one of a variety of positions.

2. A carrier for a stair tread unit comprisingmea. s to support said unit and a body portion having a pair of apertures adapted to receive attaching means for :ecuring the carrier to a support, one of said apertures being elongated to receive one ol said attaching means in any one of a variety ofpositions and the other aperture substantially fitting the attaching means.

3. A carrier for a stair tread unit comprising a body portion adapted'to be secured to a support, a ledge carried by said body portion and-adapted to support an end of said unit, and ears at the endso't' said ledge to receive the edges of said unit.

t. A carrier for a stair tread unit comprising a body portion adapted to be secured to a support, a ledge carried by said body portion and adapted to support an end of said unit, and ears at the ends of said ledge to receive the edges of said unit, said ledge being relatively narrow and said ears being relatively wide for the purpose set forth.

A carrier for a stair tread unit comprising a body'portion adapted to be secured to a support, a ledge :arried by said body portion and adapted to support an end of said unit. and ears at the ends of said ledgeto receive the edges of said unit, said ledge being relatively narrow and said earsbeing relatively wide and turned up to prevent movement of said unit lengthwise of said carrier.

'6. in ctnubination, a stair tread unit, a carrier for said unit and emu-prising a body portion adapted to be secured to a support, a ledge on which the end 01'' said unit rest -z, and ears at the ends of said ledge to support the edges of said unit and turned up to prevent movement of said unit lengtln wise of said carrier, said turned-up ears being seemed to said edges for the purpose set forth.

7. A carrier for a stair tread unit formed of one piece oiimaterial and comprising a body portion bent to form a ledge and ears extending beyond the edge of said ledge adjacent the ends thereof.

8. A carrier for a stair tread unit formed o't one piece of material and comprising a body portion bent to form a ledge and ears extending beyond the edge of said ledge adjacent the ends thereof, said ears being bent upwardly to engage the edges of a unit supported by said carrier.

9. In combination, a stair tread unit, a carrier for said unit and adapted to support one end thereof, said carrier being formed of one piece of mate ial and having a body portionadapted to be secured to a support, said body portion being bent over to form a ledge, ears at the ends of said ledge and bent upwardly to engage the edges of said unit, and means securing said bent-up ears to said edges for the purpose set forth.

In testimony whereot, I have atiixed my signature to this specification.

Irennnnrn. BUNKER. 

